shield Vodun
Zangbeto, guardians of the night
Zangbeto (“the guardian of the night”) is one of the most striking Vodun traditions of southern Benin. Living human statues in raffia costumes, they protect the villages.
Who are the Zangbeto?
The Zangbeto are guardian spirits embodied by Vodun initiates. They come out mostly at night to protect villages from thieves and evil spirits.
Conical costume
The Zangbeto appear as moving cones completely covered in colorful raffia. No one sees the human inside — it is the spirit that manifests itself.
During ceremonies, they whirl to the sound of drums. A spectacular and sacred tradition.
Traditional police
Before colonization, the Zangbeto were the village police. Today, in some communities, they still settle minor disputes alongside the state justice system.
Worth seeing
During the Vodun Days (January 10), the Zangbeto parade in Ouidah and Porto-Novo. A free show not to be missed if you visit Benin in January.
The invisible sentinels
The Zangbeto embody one of the most mysterious facets of Vodun: justice, protection, performance art. A living heritage unique to Benin.
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